On the Blight or Mildeu of JFheat. 69 



hue of the'ir«straw, or their stubbles, to have been more or 

 lees blicihtcd ; excepting in a few instances in Gloucester- 

 shire, a. '.J others in Oxfoi J?hn-e, in which instances only 

 strong-, y='li')\v, healthy stubbles were observable. 



The cause of the disease in the county in which T had 

 the best opportunity of observing it (Caermarthenshire), 

 appeare:', very evidently, to proceed from some cold rains 

 which fell ab JUL the middle of August. Before that time 

 whtat crmi m general looked healthy, and were beginning 

 to change to a bright colour. But presently after a few cold 

 wet days the malady became obvious to the n.iked eye. The 

 straw lost its smooth varnished surface, being occupied 

 by innumerable specks, which changed in a few days, in 

 less than a week, to a dark or blackish colour, giving the 

 straw a dusky appearance *. 



A gentleman of Caermarthenshire, who is attentive to 

 agricultural concerns, is of opinion that this destructive 

 disease may be prevented bv sownig old seed ; namely, 

 wheat of the preceding year's growth, instead of new wheat, 

 agreeably to the practice of the Colswold Hills of Glouces- 

 tershire. Tam much inclined to think, that by Fowing 

 early, agreeably to that practice (see Gloucestershire, II. 

 51.), this fatal disease might frequently be avoided, early 

 ripe crops hemg, Irom all tiae observations that I have 

 hitherto made, the least subject to its baleful effect. Corn 

 which ripens under the hot summer sun of Juls', is not so 

 liable to cold chilling vains as that which remains unmatured 

 until the sun begins to lose its power, and the nights to 

 increase in length and coolness. 



A certain preventive of this disaster would be a disco- 

 very worth millions to the country. Until this be made, 

 let the grower of wheat not only endeavour to sow early, 

 but let him look narrowly to his crop during the critical 

 time of the filling of the grain ; and whenever he may per- 

 ceive it to be smitten with the disease, let hkn lose no time 

 in cutting it, suffering it to lie on the stubble until the 

 straw be firm and crisp enough to be set up in sheaves, 

 without adhering in the binding places ; — allowing it to 

 remain in the field, until the grain shall have receivetl the 

 nutriment v. hich the straw may be able to injpart. Where 

 wheat has been grown on " lammas land," and the giound 



• Devonshire had its rains in the ripening season of 18CX). A third in- 

 stance ot the Might of wheat sucoetding rain, was observed in tlie same 

 county, in 1794. And a fourth was equally obvious, in 17^5, in the Mid- 

 land Counties, as m:iy be seen in the Rural Economy of that dL-partmont, 

 minute "i. 



E 3 obliored 



